Secondary battery.



' H. F. JOEL. SECONDARY BATTERY. APPLIOATION 'ILBD JULY 17, 1908. Im6,320. Patented Mar. 23, 1909.

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f 1E E ihn. I L R HENRY FRANCIS JOEL, F LONDGN, ENGLAND.

SE UDNDARY B ATTEJRZ'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 23, 1909.

Application led July 17, 190B. leral No. h?.

and `negative element-s are employed im.

mersed in acidnlated liquid the whole being contained in an outsidereceptacle to form Y a complete cell; and the objects of myiniprtwements are, first, to reduce an automatic and continuouscirculation of the electrolyte; second, to remove any gases clinging tothe surfaces of the electrodes; and third, to bring all the denseelectrolyte from the bottom of the cell into active circulation. lattain these objects by the meclianisni illustrated in theaccompanyingdraw ing, in which:-

Figure Vi, is a combined sectional and isometric view of a complete cellwith electrodes oi' cylindrical'form; Fig.` 2, is a plan view ot lFig.lg'Fig. ,91, is a combined sec.

tional and isometric view of a inodilied it'orin of cell withcylindrical electrodes; and,

Fig. el, is a plan view oi. Fig.

Similar letters roter to similar parts throughout the several views.

The containing receptacle B may be oll any suitable form, preferablyitis ot' rettangular shape so that space is found for providing a, goedsupply of electrolyte. By providing channels betr-veen the electrodeswhich taper ott toward their top ends the 1 evolved from the faces otthe electrodes, gathering volume as it reaches the narrowed outlets ofthe channels, draws up the liquid electrolyte and forces it over thetop`of the electrodes to fall again to the bottom on the outsidethereof, the denselelectrolyte at the bottom is thusA utilized to .tairethe place 0i that drawn up; `since the vertical channels are continuousfrom the bottom to the top of the cell the circulation must take placethroughout the Whole of the cell and not through a section only of samewhich is a point of considerable importance. In order tui'therto drawinto action the dense electrolyte lying at the bottom of the cell,members extending downwardly from the electrodes are preferably employedhaving openings near the bottom of the cell.

In Figs. l and 2 a cylindrical positive electrode P is placed inside acylindrical negative electrode N, the cylindrical separator S heiliginterposed between them made of some suitable porous material, such asporcelain or asbestos. The central electrode P is tapered to form atruncated cone with its apex at the bottom, and the negative electrode Nis tapered on its inside surtace with the small end at theV top; bothhave ridges R, R t'ormed ontheir adjacent surfaces, the ridge beingdeeper at the bottom end than at the top end, so that when placedtogether with the separator in place a series of channels E, E is formedon the inside and outside of the separator respectively, which channelshave narrow-outlets ,0,0 at their top ends and wide inlets l, l

at their bottom ends. The surface of the electrodes on each side of theseparator S evolve gas under the action of the electric current whichgas in passing upwards accumulates with such force as it reaches thenarrow outlets U that it draws up the liquid electrolyte, which isforced through thc outlets and falls over to the outside of the negativeelectrode, and through the 'hollow eenter C of the electrode P. rl`hismovement also sweeps clean the surfaces of the active material tendingto prevent reversed polarity. .lhe arrows indicate the circulation ofthe electrolyte. 'ln orderthat the dense electrolyte at the bottom ofthe cell B may be reached aA downwardly extending menibor li is providedin the form of a platform having periorations in its horizontal surtace, a central tube lf, and openings G at i its base through which theliquid must pass to reach the tapered channels E, E. The centralelectrode l3 is supported on feet G between which are openings by whichthe electrolyte" passing through the tube L reaches the taperingchannels E.

Figsh-B and l show a inodiiiedform of the apparatus. ln this case thecentral positive electrode P is of equal diameteutiiroughout; it may beformed of active material supported'on a metallic grid, or as anelectrode of the Flaute type; it is surrounded by, and rests upon Vthecorrugated porous separating cylinder S having the platform S2 andthiscylinder is of suoliv a size as to loosely lit the small diameterforming the outlets O ot the internally tapered negative electrode Nwhen placed in position concentric with the positive electrode. Thenegative electrode is formed of either the Plante, or pasted type andthe metallic part of it is continued below the active material to formfeet for the support of the electrode, o enings G2 being formed betweenthe feet y which the electrolyte returns to the inside of the electrode.It will be seen that a tapered channel is formed as before between theelectrodes, being divided up to some extent by the corrugations of theseparator S.

It must be understood that a perforated separating cylinder formed of asubstance such as ebonite of non-porous character may equally wellbeemployed instead of a porous cylinder if desired.

1t Will be understood that in order to produce my invention it is onlynecessary to employ a tubular negative electrode in lwhich the interiorWall is formed of a surface of revolution in which the correspondingpoints of successive transversel planes therethrough trace a straightline; and a.

positive electrode Within said negative electrode having an outersurface of revolution in which the corresponding points of successivetransverse planes therethrough trace a straight line; but in which theinner wall e the negative electrode vand the outer sur- .5e of thepositive electrode are so disposed longitudinally that an upwardlytaperingr channel is formed therebetween.

Wvhat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a tubularpositive electrode having a surface of revolution in whichcorrespondingr points in successive'transverse planes therethrough tracea straight line, a tubular negative electrode surrounding the positiveelectrode, but ot less internal diameter at the top than at the bottom,and insulatingI means introducedI between them, said electrodes formingwhen placed together an inclosed tapered channel connect ing the denseportions ot' the electrolyte in the loi-ver part of the Vcell with theless dense portions inthe upper part of the cell.

Q. l-n a device ot' the class described, the

combination of a tubular positive electrode ot' greater diameter at thetop than at the bottom, a tubular negative electrode, surrounding thepositive electrode but of less internal diameter at the top than at thebottom, and insulatin means introduced between them, said e ectrodesforming when placed together an inclosed tapered channel connecting thedense portions of the electrolyte inuthe lower part of the cell with theless dense portions in the upper part of the eieao cell, substantiallyas and :for the purpose set jforth.

3. .ln a deviceot the class described, the combination ot aftubularpositive electrode of greater diameter at the top than at the bottom, atubular negative electrode sur rounding the positive electrode, andinsulating means introduced between them, said electrodes formingwhenplaced together an inclosed tapered channel connecting the denseportions of the electrolyte in the lower part or the cell with the lessdense portions in the upper part of the cell, substantially as and forthe.purpose set forth.

4. In a device ot the class described, the combination with a tubularpositive electrode ot' greater diameter at the top than at the bottom,and provided with a central hole, or a tubular negative electrodesurrounding the positive electrode but of less internal diameter at thetop than at the bottom, vertical ridges with parallel edges formed onthe adjacent surfaces of the electrodes, and a porous separatingcylinder interposed between the said ridges `whereby Vthe annular spacebetween the electrodes is divided into a series ot "ertically taperingchannels.

ln a device of the class described, the combination with a tubularpositive electrode of greater diameter at the top than at the bottom,and provided with a central hole, of a tubular negative electrodesurrounding the positive electrode but of less interna,l diameter at thetop than a't the botntom, vertical ridges with parallel edges 'formed onthe adjacentsurfaces of the elec- 't-rodes,and a perforated'separatingcylinder interposed between the said ridges whereby the annular spacebetween the electrodes is divided into a series ot' vertically taperingchannels. l

6. 1n adevice of the class described, the combination with a tubularpositive electrode of greater diameterat the top than at the bottom, andprovided with apen-trai hole, of-a tubular negative electrode(surrounding the positive electrode butjof less internal diameter at thetop than at'thebottom, vertical` ridges with. paralleldges formed on theadjacent surfaces of the electrodes, a separating cylinder interposedb'etween the said ridges, and a perforated member .extending downwardlyfrom the electrodes'whereby the dense electrolyte at the bottom of the'cell is drawn by the circulating current into the annular channelbetween the electrodes, substantially as described hcrein.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubularpositive'electrode of greater diameter at the top than at the bottoinandpo'vided with a central `hole, Aotla tubular Anegative electrodesurextendin l cent1-nl tube und with holes beneath the annular spacebetween the `electrodes, `substantially als and for the purposeroundingl the positive electrodebut. of less internal diameter at thetop than at the bottoni, vertical ridges with parallel edges formed onthe adjacent surfaces of the eleci set forth. 5 trodes, a separatingcylinder interposed bel ln testimony whereof I have affixed my 15 tweenthe said ridges, a cylindrical member 1 signature in presence oftwowitnesses.

extending` downfvardly from the electrodes, HENRY FRANCISJ OEL. haringholeaI in its,` bottom edge, and a platvitnessesz form forming partthereof supporting the H. D. JAMESoN,

10 eleetrmletl und provided with n downwardly 1 F. L. RAND.

